Gary Downey, an Alumni Distinguished Professor in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society, received the Society for Social Studies of Science’s Infrastructure Award, the first individual scholar to be so honored. 

The award recognizes his achievements building scholarly infrastructures that have advanced the field of science, technology, and society. 

Among his accomplishments are: his role as co-founder of the graduate program in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society; establishment of a book series that produces digital publications and licenses them to universities so students are afforded free access to them; and initiation of a scholarly movement called STS Making and Doing, which draws attention to expressing knowledge in ways other than traditional publications.